One of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's former staffers is backing his democratic challenger in the closely watched state's U.S. Senate race.
The attorney general's former director of law enforcement and former Texas Ranger, David Maxwell, endorsed state Rep. James Talarico over his former boss in a new political ad released on Sept. 8.
"Ken Paxton ended my five-decade career in public service because I blew the whistle on his corruption," David Maxwell said. "In Texas, no one is above the law — not even the Attorney General. Today, I'm endorsing James Talarico because Texans deserve a Senator who serves the people — not a crook who serves himself."
Maxwell, who spent five decades in law enforcement, was one of the whistleblowers who went to
the FBI to report Paxton for allegedly taking bribes from convicted felon Nate Paul.
Later, Maxwell also testified against Paxton during the Texas House 2023 impeachment trial, where Paxton was impeached but later acquitted by the Senate on all charges.
"Those closest to Ken Paxton know he's unfit for office because he's not a public servant — he's a puppet who abuses his office to enrich himself and his donors at the expense of working Texans," Talarico said. "Texas Ranger David Maxwell is a decorated law enforcement official who served our state honorably for five decades. Together, we're building a campaign that will enforce the law and put an end to corruption in Texas."
What do recent Texas Senate polls show?
Of the publicly released polls conducted in August, the recent Texas Public Opinion Research survey is the only one showing either candidate leading by more than the poll's margin of error.
Released Aug. 27, the poll showed Talarico leading Paxton by 6 percentage points, 48% to 42%, a lead outside the poll's 3.3-percentage-point margin of error. Democratic strategist Luke Warford directs the firm, though Texas Public Opinion Research describes itself as nonpartisan.
Before that, a University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll published Aug. 25 found 42% of Texas voters preferred Talarico, while 39% planned to vote for Paxton in the closely watched U.S. Senate race.
Earlier polling painted a similarly tight picture. An Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media poll released on Aug. 13 showed the Texas Senate race as a dead heat, with Paxton at 47% and Talarico at 46%.
A Texas Pulse/Texas A&M Bush School poll,released Aug. 7, showed Talarico leading 47% to 43%, while a Texas Southern University Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center poll released Aug. 4 showed Talarico ahead 47% to 45%, both within their respective margins of error.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paxton whistleblower backs Talarico in tight Texas Senate race
